A Musing Mother 6

Little Red Hen died. I went out to gather eggs and found a heap of feathers. I knew immediately that Little Red Hen was in trouble. The feathers were attached to Little Red. The other ladies were talking more than usual. I did not panic. I calmly deferred to my husband. It was a Sunday, a day of rest and dinner was in the crock pot, church finished for the day. His eyes were closed. I poked him twice before asking if he was asleep. He jumped on the second poke so I knew he wasn't asleep, anymore . He must have noticed the slight hysteria in my eyes because, although he said he'd get to it in a while, he was up and taking care of Little Red within 5 minutes. The pecking order has been disrupted. Mama Hen started yelling shortly after dinner. She stood on the porch and yelled for her flock to come to her. Shortly thereafter, Jaxon noticed the Americahna's back. It took me a few more days (a week) but I realized her feather's had been pulled out on her sides and back and s...

Spring Break 2013 - We're going nowhere. I wanted to get a condo in St. George but couldn't find anything so I went ahead and scheduled Alyssa's wisdom teeth extraction (she has 5 of them which explains why she's so wise) and Samantha is getting surgery on her foot. Remember that bundle of blood vessels Scott had in his brain that the neurosurgeon removed? Well, they grow on feet, too. Just a reminder - hemangioma. I know. Who knew? So Alyssa wants to check out some of the colleges that are offering her scholarships before making a decision. Knowing that Spring Break is going to be miserable for both of them, she suggested we go to southern Utah and check out Dixie State University, my Alma Mater.Except it was much, much smaller back in the olden days. I think there were pioneers still settling the homesteads in wagons and gingham dresses. It was not a university nor was it a 4 year college. If it were, I'd have stayed.  There was a big baseball tournament in St. Ge...

  It started with a glimpse of a teacher trying to not be seen. I ignored him since I was overwhelmed, anyway. That was a mistake. He pranks offices. His favorite prey are in the counseling section. Small things were amiss. Half hour in, I realized my clock was upside down. Many days I'd find my framed photos upside down or backwards. Any time I found something wrong in my office, half of the school could hear me screech, "Daniel!" He sneaks up behind us, gets close to our ears before he makes a comment, startling us into a scream. Then one day he went too far.  All my framed photos were backwards and askew. My bulletin board was all wrong. The most egregious act of mischief was what he did to my bucket of candy bars. He'd spilled them across my desk, computer, and some fell on the floor. It was war. One day he'd done a particularly good job of vandalizing and I knew I would be stepping it up a notch. Poor Daniel is also O.C.D. about order. He has everything pl...

Last time it was for a newsletter for a local attraction. She won a photo contest aaannd (drum roll, please) a year pass worth $170, thankyouverymuch. This one has no monetary award.  Just an immense amount of parental pride. She did this by herself and told me afterward. The magazine contacted me and requested permission to publish. If you don't subscribe to The New Era, WHY NOT?! If you heard a thump, that was my foot stomping. Because look at what she did this time . While I'm in the mood, remember that Christmas card I sent out that peripherally mocked long winded and boastful Christmas letters? Don't I feel self-righteous? I did. For a minute. But now... My oldest daughter has been offered full scholarships to four of the colleges/universities she applied to, has been accepted into a university that many applicants don't, and we're still waiting on more. My oldest son is playing in a basketball tournament this week and his team is undefeated. Except for on...

Great pick me up. Hope you end up smiling by the middle of this, too.

My tension headache was already beginning to throb and it was only 8:45 a.m. I had been at work for one hour. This was day 3 of individual student educational occupational plans. I had met with well over two dozen parents who were insisting their child was going to be a doctor, lawyer, or professional athlete. I'd witnessed children arguing with parents that they changed their minds and they did not want to be a radiologist anymore while the parents insisted they most certainly did. One parent was in tears because she feared her child was not on track to complete A.P. calculus and statistics. Every parent I'd met with wanted to know the exact particulars to scholarship applications. This, my friend, is 8th grade. I'd also slept very poorly because I'd dreamed that zombies were chasing me and trying to eat my brain. Given my first paragraph, I don't think it takes a psychology degree to interpret that one. I used my calm voice  and, we might as well add, who knew I h...

How can I portray my seasonal malaise when I can't even dig out my car? How do I stay in a climate this ways that is north of the northern most star? I remember a time in a place that was mine where I sweat while I built a new coop. But those were the days before the malaise and chicks didn't roost on iced poop. I think I recall during summer or fall when the colors were other than white. I could spend all my days without this malaise and the mountains within my sight. Perhaps I'd feel free if I'd only go ski and I'd fly like the wind as it blows. But the snow will only melt and it is clearly felt on my skin not covered with clothes.